MONTHLY MISSIVE: June

Photo by Ryan McGuire

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I love the way June always seems to be full of adventure. Something about the start of summer makes people feel a bit more free. This month I started this website, went to several board game nights, explored the city with friends, went to the coolest monthly potluck and friendship society meeting yet (there was a bonfire and the party didn't stop until the wee hours of the morning), got to see one of my favourite bands ever in concert, went to so many amazing free festivals and have generally just been living my best life. I hope the rest of summer brings just as much fun and friendship to all of you. 

Here are some of the things I loved this month, on the internet and elsewhere:

• Melodrama - Because if you haven’t listened to Lorde’s new album yet, what are you doing with your life? It is beyond phenomenal.
• Slow Show by The National – this song resurfaced when I had my Spotify on shuffle and I haven’t been able to stop listening since. How did I forget how genius it is?
• Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran –My friend lent this too me and I loved it so much I went out and bought a copy before giving it back to her so I'd never have to be without it. Moran is just such a brilliant columnist, and this collection is a perfect balance of highly entertaining bits and deeply serious commentary.
• Wonder Woman – I have now watched this movie more times than is necessary, and I keep finding new ways to love it. Even if you’re not usually into superhero films, I recommend giving it a chance. And then please tweet about it, because another thing I've been loving this month is all the fantastic social media reactions there's been to this film.
• The Secret Lives of Playlists – A must read for any Spotify user. Such an interesting look at the economy behind music curation on the internet. 
• Dragon Babies - This podcast is the thing I never knew I needed in my life. Two sisters review their favourite YA fantasy novels - and if you are now in your late twenties they were probably your favourite YA fantasy novels too. It is just so fantastic to see how other people loved these books the same way I loved them, and hearing them reflect back on them has definitely made me dig out some old favourites for a re-read.
• Mapping Fantasies Into A Single Multiverse - Also on the YA trend, this article is a super cool look at where various fantasy portal worlds (Narnia, Wonderland, etc.) fall on the map of nonsense/virtue as outlined in Every Heart a Doorway. Super thoughtful bit of meta-analysis, that.
• Shipwreck Diary of a Content Marketer - The perfect satire for the internet age
• The Monthly Potluck and Friendship Society - an idea I started in January, when my friends were complaining about how difficult it's been to actual keep in touch with everyone. It's been going for six months now and has really come together. I super encourage people to start their own chapters of this society with their friends - it's really easy, you just need one day a month that people can be free for an evening, and a few people who are willing to rotate hosting duties. It can get a little cramped if, like us, you're mostly hosting in people's tiny apartments, but it is the most fun. It's like having a holiday dinner with your friends, without needing the excuse of a holiday!
• Looking for Leia - This Kickstarter for this closed earlier this month, but even if you missed out on it I highly recommend following the progress of this project because it is going to be awesome. It is so refreshing to have a documentary about the Star Wars fandom that focuses on the fangirls, and I am beyond excited to see it.
• The Secret Loves of Geek Girls Redux - It seems all the geeks ladies are doing amazing things on Kickstarter these days. I missed the first one so I was so excited to see the redux announced. A collection of true stories in a variety of mediums all about dating as a geek, from some of your favourite people in fandom - what more could a girl ask for?
• Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls 2 - Yet another Kickstarter campaign, Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls 2 is the perfect thing for any children in your life. Plus, there is going to be a podcast! Which is just the best idea.
• .Pride Month - While my city always has it's pride festivities in August, it's been great to watch all the festivities world wide - and of course there's been an outpouring of fantastic articles on the internet, some of my favourites being this tumblr post about queer literature, the babadook is a frightening, fabulous new gay icon, Buzzfeed's This Is What It Looks Like to Celebrate Pride All Around The World, this interview with Chris Cox of Thunderpuss, and This Is What LGBTQ Resistance Looks Like.


• What have you been up to this June? Whatever it was, I hope it was amazing!
  
  Dream on dreamers,